Concept in architectural design

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 ……A simple definition of a concept suggests that: A simple definition of a concept suggests that: conceptsconcepts 

 are image or thougth base developments which are image or thougth base developments which supportssupports 

 or directly guides the for generation in design.or directly guides the for generation in design. 

 …integrate various…integrate various components of architectural form,components of architectural form, 

 …it suggest a new way of …it suggest a new way of order which creates the whole,order which creates the whole, 

 …it is more holistic approach towards the creation of…it is more holistic approach towards the creation of 

 form, form, 

 …it suggests a kind of …it suggests a kind of visual model to imagine the form…visual model to imagine the form… 

 …it is a generator for …it is a generator for the form giving activity in design…the form giving activity in design… 

 …in this approach of form generating activity is more…in this approach of form generating activity is more 

 deductive deductive and and the the preliminary preliminary form form shows shows a a prioripriori 

 nature. nature. 

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 ……Concept suggests a specific way that allConcept suggests a specific way that all design inputs (programmatic

design inputs (programmatic requirements,requirements, context

context and and constrains constrains which which are are client,client,

legislator, user and designer based) can be legislator, user and designer based) can be brought together.

brought together. 

 …most of the time it would be an easiest way…most of the time it would be an easiest way to propose the formal analogies between the to propose the formal analogies between the new building form and

new building form and other forms either fromother forms either from natural or design world.

natural or design world. 

 this this forms forms could could have have a a formal formal indicationsindications with the function or

with the function or 

 … context of the new building… context of the new building 

 …it could be just a designer’s dream and…it could be just a designer’s dream and his/her inner voice

his/her inner voice and personal view, worldand personal view, world view,

view, decision decision and and image image or or message message that that hehe likes to give to the others.

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golf club

golf club building building looks llooks like a ike a putterputter

Museum of nature with shell like form Museum of nature with shell like form

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What are the conceptual tools?

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…

the specific design constraints can be used as

the basis for the design decisions or

design

concept.



…

architectural properties, elements or

ideas

can be reduced to

a formal architectonic

concern like:

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the way using day light, space impression,

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integration of structure and form, the way

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of sitting in the landscape,

different or

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unusual interpretation of the function or

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making senarios

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 Concept can be a thought based, but explainedConcept can be a thought based, but explained 

 verbally through the sentences which may alsoverbally through the sentences which may also 

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Concept can be a theme or starting

point of design which is a specific

pattern or idea that is developed

throughout the design process.

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Especially it appears at the beginning to

be the based for the form generation.

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Sometimes through an

Sometimes through an unconscious

unconscious

drawings, and cketches, (that is

drawings, and cketches, (that is why

why

this type of drawings are

this type of drawings are called concept

called concept

drawings)

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However it is obvious that it helps

designers to imagine and then

designers to imagine and then visualise

visualise

their design ideas,

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Concept does not always have to be

invented by the architect but should

invented by the architect but should be

be

revealed/disco

vered by

vered by him

him

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it might be hidden in

it might be hidden in the clients

the clients

requiremen

ts, site

ts, site conditions, building

conditions, building

regulations or ….

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Therefore constrai

Therefore constraints may turn out

nts may turn out as a

as a

generator during the concept development

attempt

attempt of

of designer

designer

.

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Le

Corbusier’s

Corbusier’s design for the

design for the carpenter

carpenter

Center of the visual

arts at Harvard

University i

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This, Le Corbusier's only major building in

the United States

_—

designed to house

classes in architecture, film, and other

arts

_—

has struck some critics as

surprisingly 'modest and accommodating.'

Its concrete exterior has a smooth, precise

finish; tall, thin columns break up its

interior spaces. A great curvilinear ramp

bisects the structure and connects with t

he

main stair and an exhibition space."

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interpretation of the function, a glass interpretation of the function, a glass shelf goes up from the ground to the shelf goes up from the ground to the roof becomes the more determined roof becomes the more determined element and concept of space

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..creating Pattern or Order; ..creating Pattern or Order; …..

…..Super organizing ideas or orderingSuper organizing ideas or ordering principles

principles refer refer to to general general geometricgeometric

configurations or hierarchies that the parts of configurations or hierarchies that the parts of the forms should respect

the forms should respect ……

……urban design and campus planning are examplesurban design and campus planning are examples

in which an

in which an overoverall organizing pattern all organizing pattern is establishedis established

and the buildings, spaces and functions are filled in

…..

…..schemes or sketches are a kind of conceptual andschemes or sketches are a kind of conceptual and

meanwhile

meanwhile graphic graphic products products which which can can be be acceptedaccepted

a conceptual visualizations or presentations. (a

layout proposals.

(the concept of the project should be expressible in

the kind of sketch one might do on a napkin. This

original diagram would be just as visible and

identifiable in the finished building as it was on the

napkin.)

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…..

As these representations works

which are basicly a kind of ways to

simplify the image of the form which

can be accepted as a kind of

conceptual

presentation of design.

…

Because the concept implies

appropriateness

,

likeness, sameness.

……So that concept plays a visual

model

especially at the beginning of design.

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Concept formulation is not an automatic

activity… It takes a

activity… It takes a concentrated effort to

concentrated effort to

develop a concept that appropriately

integrates things which are not previously

brought together.

Bringing things together is a

Bringing things together is a creative act

creative act

one that designers, architects, critics,

artists, musicians and writers have

identified as being about 10 percent

inspiration or genius and 90 percent hard

work.

Concept

/formulation/formation/development

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 Concept formulation is an unfamiliar activity forConcept formulation is an unfamiliar activity for most people and students of

most people and students of architecture have asarchitecture have as much trouble mastering it as

much trouble mastering it as they do other aspectsthey do other aspects of design.

of design. 

 SeverSeveral problems block al problems block skill development inskill development in conceptualizing:

conceptualizing: 

 . . problems problems of of communication:communication: verbal/graphical

verbal/graphical dialogue dialogue within within our our minds minds asas well as with the others… the process of

well as with the others… the process of sketches)

sketches) 

 . . poor poor repertoire repertoire of of forms forms and and tradition tradition ofof 

 modelsmodels 

 . . problems problems of of experienceexperience 

 . . problems problems of of generating generating hierarchies, hierarchies, andand 

 sequences, organizing design inputs…sequences, organizing design inputs… 

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Concept has to be a thought based, but

explained verbally through the sentences

which will have a picturesque

potential’

.

Because of this, concept helps designer

to imagine and visualise the form, in

his/her mind at first and later

to

externalize it through

the presentations.

Therefore the similarities between

concept and form(presentation) can be

clear and visiable.

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The site of the Danish

embassy on the outskirts

of Adis Abeba consists of

five hectares of eucalyptus

woods, dropping steeply

into a

into a valley.valley.

THE SITE

The

The _ _ embassyembassy _ _ withwith

ambassador's residence is

situated in the centre of the

terrain in a long, horizontal

volume that seems to have

been

been carved carved out out of of thethe

landscape, like a traditional

Ethiopian church carved out

of the rock.

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Roof Plan Roof Plan

Long Sections Long Sections First Floor Plan First Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan Ground Floor Plan

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The landscape intersects the volume on the

borderline

borderline of of the the two two functions. functions. At At this this pointpoint

the road embedded in the

the road embedded in the landscape passes overlandscape passes over

the building, before dropping to the covered

visitor’s

visitor’s_{entrance of the residence.}_{entrance of the residence.}

The outside walls are of rough concrete

in the same red color as the ground.

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The roof, that comes into sight at the

moment that the road intersects the building,

has been implemented as a shallow pond, a

reference to the Netherlands in the hilly

Ethiopian landscape.

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

 Ukraine's Unusual Friend HouseUkraine's Unusual Friend House

Hotel is Made From Clay, Reeds and Hotel is Made From Clay, Reeds and Wood

Wood



 byby Ana Lisa AlperovichAna Lisa Alperovich, 05/07/12, 05/07/12 

 Filedunder:Filedunder: ArchitectureArchitecture,, biomimicrybiomimicry,,

Eco Tourism

Eco Tourism,, Sustainable MaterialsSustainable Materials 

 Nestled in a Ukrainian forest sits aNestled in a Ukrainian forest sits a

very unusual hotel that looks as if it's

been built by a bird like the

been built by a bird like theRufousRufous

Hornero

Hornero. Made entirely from local,. Made entirely from local,

biodegradable materials like clay,

reeds and wood, the Friend House

Hotel was in fact developed

by

by Ryntovt DesignRyntovt Design. Boasting 5,700. Boasting 5,700

square feet of both indoor and outdoor

areas, this cozy eco-retreat is a

collection of clay cocoon shelters

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 With its rippling facade andWith its rippling facade and

vast green roof, It's also the vast green roof, It's also the tallest building in the world to tallest building in the world to be designed by a woman

be designed by a woman

Gang who is immensely fond Gang who is immensely fond of birds. In the design of the of birds. In the design of the Aqua T

Aqua Towerower, she has paid, she has paid careful attention to the way careful attention to the way birds see

birds see_–_– or don't see or don't see_–_– sheer glass walls, helping sheer glass walls, helping them to avoid fatal collisions. them to avoid fatal collisions. (A building with a complex (A building with a complex facade is much safer for facade is much safer for

them, as are irregular window them, as are irregular window bars; birds pick up on the

bars; birds pick up on the irregularity.) In her office, irregularity.) In her office,

Gang has a number of bird's Gang has a number of bird's nests lined up on a window nests lined up on a window sill; she says she admires sill; she says she admires their spare, essential beauty. their spare, essential beauty.

 

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The most important consideration related to concept: The most important consideration related to concept: ...

... ‘Whether or n ‘Whether or not conceptsot concepts or concept formulations are or concept formulations are necessary and appropriate for all building types? The necessary and appropriate for all building types? The answer could be no but:

answer could be no but: W

We can underline differences e can underline differences between startingbetween starting

point/designers own preferences selected among the point/designers own preferences selected among the components of problem and concept/senario/main components of problem and concept/senario/main theme.

theme.

The first group items are not supposed to be read in The first group items are not supposed to be read in

architectural form by the professional or especially architectural form by the professional or especially non prefessional perceiver.

non prefessional perceiver.

However the second group are visiable in

However the second group are visiable in thethe architectural form in many levels and

architectural form in many levels and dimensionsdimensions

including the total image of the external form, space including the total image of the external form, space and the details as well.